RSS Content

Amazon continues to expand internationally, invites developers around
the world to start submitting apps for distribution in Japan later this
year

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 4, 2012--
(NASDAQ:AMZN) – Amazon.com, Inc. announced that developers can now
submit apps for distribution later this year in Japan. This is another
significant addition to Amazon’s complete end-to-end platform for
developers looking to build, market, and monetize their apps and games.
Developers can get started today by visiting the Amazon
Mobile App Distribution Portal.

Millions of customers have been discovering and buying Android apps for
their phones and tablets since the launch of Amazon’s U.S. Appstore last
year, and the company’s merchandising, personalization and
recommendation technologies are enabling developers to attract even more
customers. Amazon also recently expanded distribution into the United
Kingdom, Italy, France, Germany and Spain, further enabling developers
to grow their business. Additionally, Amazon’s developers have reported
strong monetization from the apps they have distributed, by
incorporating services like In-App Purchasing and Amazon’s secure,
1-Click purchasing. The In-App Purchasing API makes it easy to offer
digital content and subscriptions —such as in-game currency, expansion
packs, upgrades, magazine subscriptions and more— for purchase within
their apps. Amazon’s secure 1-Click purchasing experience gives
customers a seamless shopping experience when purchasing content.

Developers distributing game apps on Amazon’s platform in the U.S. have
also reported increased customer engagement using services from Amazon
such as GameCircle, which offers features like leaderboards,
achievements and syncing game-state between Kindle devices. To get
started developers can visit https://developer.amazon.com/sdk/gamecircle.html.

GameCircle is just one of the many unique developer tools and services
offered from Amazon for gaming. To learn more, including Amazon Web
Services and how developers are building games in the cloud, visit http://aws.amazon.com/game-hosting/.

“Opening our portal to app and game developers looking to reach Japanese
customers is an important milestone as we strive to serve consumers and
developers globally,” says Jim Adkins, Vice President of the Amazon
Appstore. “Many of our existing developers are anxious to localize their
apps and games for Japanese consumers, and we look forward to working
with new developers that have been waiting for a chance to bring their
Japanese content to the Amazon platform. By continuing to expand our app
program internationally, as well as build upon the app services offered
by Amazon, we are giving developers the opportunity to attract more
customers and expand their businesses.“

“I am delighted with the strong relationship that we’ve cultivated with
Amazon, in both Mobile App Distribution and AWS. Amazon boasts some of
the highest customer LTVs we've seen on any platform, and a suite of
end-to-end developer solutions that impact bottom line results. The
flexible and cost-effective platform allows us to scale up and down as
needed while only paying for the resources used. In
addition, their recommendation features really benefit customer
experience and discovery,” said Suli Ali, CEO of TinyCo, maker of Tiny
Monsters, and Tiny Village. “We think the services offered through the
Amazon platform have contributed to much of the success, so we are very
excited to expand our offerings to Amazon’s customers in Japan.”

“With chart-topping fan favorites from acclaimed series such as Final
Fantasy, Square Enix firmly believes that distribution in Japan through
Amazon will be a fantastic avenue to reach an entirely new segment of
Amazon's loyal user base,” said Yoichi Wada, CEO of Square Enix. “We
have been eagerly awaiting Amazon’s expansion into Japan, and think it
marks an exciting opportunity to tailor our interactive entertainment
experiences for even more players around the world.”

“We are very excited by the launch of the Developer Portal in Japan, and
look forward to introducing the Yahoo! Japan app to Amazon’s Japanese
customers,” says Manabu Miyasaka, President and CEO of Yahoo Japan.

"We've been a top app on the Amazon Appstore in the U.S. and we look
forward to expanding to Japan with Amazon," said Diana Moldavsky, Chief
Revenue Officer, ZeptoLab. "Amazon's strong app discovery tools such as
Free App of the Day will make it easy for Japanese users to discover and
experience local favorites, as well as best-selling games loved by
millions of people around the world."

"We see Amazon’s plans to expand their services into Japan as a very
exciting opportunity for Halfbrick. Amazon’s name is synonymous with
quality e-commerce and that quality can be seen throughout their mobile
game and application distribution,” said Shainiel Deo, CEO of Halfbrick.
“Features like 1-Click purchasing, customer reviews and In-App
Purchasing are just part of what helps Amazon deliver an excellent
experience for developers and consumers. In addition, Amazon's unique
marketing opportunities, such as Free App of the Day, really help us
deliver our games to end-users.”

"Gamers are always hungry for great content and Amazon has been a
fantastic avenue for G5 Entertainment to reach a huge new segment of
consumers. Our fan-favorite, premium hidden object and time management
games like Royal Trouble and Virtual City Playground are topping the
casual gaming charts," said Marta Miernik, Head of Communications for G5
Entertainment. “Amazon’s expansion into Japan broadens our reach and
enables us to bring great mobile entertainment experiences to an even
larger consumer base around the world."

“The Weather Channel is happy to be available with Amazon's mobile app
distribution in Japan. Our app offers Japanese consumers the most
comprehensive set of weather information available in order to plan
their day – whether they’re headed to work, school, the movies or the
park,” said Mike Zarrilli, Vice President of international at The
Weather Channel Companies. “Working with a strong global partner like
Amazon helps us reach our goal to provide the most accurate weather to
users anywhere in the world, no matter the screen, platform, country or
language.”

For developers looking to market their apps to tens of millions of
customers across the globe, Amazon makes it easy to take advantage of
unique marketing and awareness-building programs like Free App of the
Day. Developers can also make their apps more attractive to an
international audience by referring to the Distribution Portal for
Android localization tips. Developers have the ability to select the
countries where they would like to sell their apps and can set their
list prices by country. Developers can sign up at the Amazon
Mobile App Distribution Portal, and for new developers, Appstore
will waive all first year program fees.

About Amazon.com

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle,
opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth’s
Biggest Selection. Amazon.com, Inc. seeks to be Earth’s most
customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything
they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the
lowest possible prices. Amazon.com and other sellers offer millions of
unique new, refurbished and used items in categories such as Books;
Movies, Music & Games; Digital Downloads; Electronics & Computers; Home
& Garden; Toys, Kids & Baby; Grocery; Apparel, Shoes & Jewelry; Health &
Beauty; Sports & Outdoors; and Tools, Auto & Industrial. Amazon Web
Services provides Amazon’s developer customers with access to
in-the-cloud infrastructure services based on Amazon’s own back-end
technology platform, which developers can use to enable virtually any
type of business. Kindle Paperwhite is the most-advanced e-reader ever
constructed with 62% more pixels and 25% increased contrast, a patented
built-in front light for reading in all lighting conditions, extra-long
battery life, and a thin and light design. The new latest generation
Kindle, the lightest and smallest Kindle, now features new, improved
fonts and faster page turns. Kindle Fire HD features a stunning custom
high-definition display, exclusive Dolby audio with dual stereo
speakers, high-end, laptop-grade Wi-Fi with dual-band support and
dual-antennas/MIMO for 40% faster throughput than other tablets, enough
storage for HD content, and the latest generation processor and graphics
engine—and it is available in two display sizes—7” and 8.9”. The all-new
Kindle Fire features a faster processor for 40% faster performance,
twice the memory, and longer battery life.

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning
of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly
from management's expectations. These forward-looking statements involve
risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related to
competition, management of growth, new products, services and
technologies, potential fluctuations in operating results, international
expansion, outcomes of legal proceedings and claims, fulfillment center
optimization, seasonality, commercial agreements, acquisitions and
strategic transactions, foreign exchange rates, system interruption,
inventory, government regulation and taxation, payments and fraud. More
information about factors that potentially could affect Amazon.com's
financial results is included in Amazon.com's filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual
Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings.